Grande Prairie, AB

For this project, a 800-metre long, 1050 mm diameter PVC pipe had to be installed at a 0.07 percent grade paralleling a utility corridor between the Grande Prairie Golf and Country Club and an existing neighbourhood.

Resident Concerns

Local residents were very concerned about the need to remove mature poplar trees on the proposed trunk sewer alignment. These acted as a natural buffer between their backyards and the golf course. This component of the project required consultation with the golf club and with the neighbouring residents for final landscape design.

Public Consultation

Several open houses were conducted to explain the plan to replace the trees and re-landscape the area. Residents were shown how extensive landscape architecture services would be conducted for restoration of the acquired easement through the golf course property. By adding more decorative landscaping than previously existed, the project became highly acceptable to the golf course, the adjacent residents and the general public.

Tight Timelines

To meet the tight timelines set by the client, the majority of the trunk sewer was installed during the winter season. Also, most of the supplies, including bench manholes, were preordered ahead of time and stored until needed.

Flooding

Historical congestion and occasional flooding hamper both commuter and commercial traffic flow. Existing drainage was very poor and required improvements in the roadway profile and cross falls to mitigate flooding.

Fish Habitats

Both sides of Lougheed Highway and the west side of King Edward have fish-bearing ditch networks that are sensitive to impacts. Vegetated bioswales replaced asphalt medians, thereby allowing infiltration, reducing flooding impacts on fish habitat and improving water quality.

Bioswales

Engineered topsoil blends remove hydrocarbons and TSS from road runoff, which is then directed to the bioswales. Aesthetics were enhanced with landscaping of rain gardens, boulevards, streams and ditches throughout the corridor.

Project Completion

Completed in 2011, the final product is an attractive transportation corridor with more capacity for vehicles and better provision for safe pedestrian and bicycle movement while also boasting a minimal flooding risk and improving stormwater quality and fish habitat.

Burnaby, BC

The City of Burnaby retained ISL to provide comprehensive conceptual and detailed design, tender administration and construction review services for the Willingdon Greenway – a major new linear park in Burnaby.

Linking Neighbourhoods

When completed, the Greenway will run 1.2 km along Willingdon Avenue from Lougheed Highway to Hastings Street with a future phase taking the Greenway north to Penzance Street. It will link major new high-density, mixed-use developments with the Burnaby Heights commercial district, Confederation Park and a regional trail network while offering multi-modal transportation facilities.

Pedestrian-friendly

Despite being located beside a busy arterial roadway, the park will be a pedestrian-friendly space. To help shelter greenway users from road traffic, a green tunnel will be created from landscape berms, shrub beds and a tree canopy. New curb alignment and medians along Willingdon Avenue as well as new crosswalks and enhanced signalization at six intersections will prioritize pedestrian safety.

Exshaw, AB

Before the project, there was no municipal water system to treat, distribute and provide acceptable potable water to the community of Exshaw (current population 362, ultimate 1600). ISL designed and facilitated a complete municipal water system, including raw water supply and treatment, treated water storage and disinfection.

Project Completion

ISL managed this project from conceptual design to contract closeout, even assisting the Municipal District of Bighorn in obtaining funding. With the distribution system, potable water is now readily available for residents and firefighting.